Luebbert lifts Lady Jays past Camdenton

It wasn’t Sarah Luebbert’s coming out party, it was just a continuation.

The talented Jefferson City freshman scored two first-half goals and added an assist Thursday night as the Jefferson City Lady Jays blanked the Camdenton Lady Lakers 4-0 at the 179 Soccer Park.

“I think ever since she cracked her first goal, it opened the floodgates to where she is consistently finding the back of the net,” Lady Jays coach Matt Stacey said. “She’s found her niche once she got that first one.”

So far this season, the high-school game seems to suit Luebbert, who has five goals and six assists this season.

“I think she relishes the challenge of playing soccer at this level,” Stacey said.

And while Luebbert has gotten off to a great start, so have the Lady Jays. Jefferson City (5-1-1) has outscored its opponents 17-2 in its last four games.

“They’ve taken it upon their shoulders to have a better season, to prove that we’re a quality team this year,” Stacey said. “We have a great attitude and mindset with a group of girls who are ready to play every game.”

Camdenton had a good chance to score about 10 minutes into the contest, but Jefferson City keeper Becca Sturgess came up with a big save to keep the contest scoreless.

“If that one goes in, it could have been a game-changer,” Stacey said. “But she’s done that a lot this season. She hasn’t gotten a whole lot of touches this season, but she’s come up big when she’s needed to come up big.”

It was Jefferson City’s third shutout in its last four games. Stacey said that effort starts with the foursome in front of Sturgess — Katy Tambke, Courtney Kolb, Tayler LePage and Alyssa Shouse.

“Our back line has been really solid,” he said. “Katy and Courtney are quality middle backs and are doing a good job of organizing things back there, while Alyssa and Tayler have been playing well outside.”

Luebbert got the Lady Jays on the board midway through the first half on a low liner from outside the box. Jefferson City increased its lead to 2-0 about eight minutes later when Grace Haarman took a great crossing pass from Natalie Vance and scored when the Camdenton keeper strayed too far out of the net.

The Lady Jays added two scores in a two-minute span late in the half. Vance got the first one on an assist from Luebbert, then Luebbert scored on a line drive after working her way to the Lady Laker net.

Megan Foster replaced Sturgess for the final 10 minutes in the shutout, Jefferson City’s third of the season.

“We just need to keep the momentum going,” Stacey said.

Jefferson City is back in action today at Ursuline Academy. Camdenton is now 4-3.